POS1477-HPR IS ECO-INTENSITY A PREDICTIVE FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Authors: M. Karapinar, V. A. Ayyildiz, A. M. Unal, T. Firat
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Researchers are increasingly using echo-intensity (EI) as an index of muscle quality or fatty and fibrous tissue infiltration. EI is moderately associated with muscle strength and/or power and a better predictor of muscle performance than measures of muscle mass. In this regard, ultrasound-derived EI may be a promising skeletal muscle assessment tool for monitoring the progression of physical performance. However, there has been no study that investigated the relationship between muscle EI and physical performance in women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Objectives The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between the physical performance and muscle echo-intensity in women with knee OA. Methods Ninety-six women with radiological and clinical knee OA participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Quadriceps femoris (Rectus Femoris-RF, Vastus Intermedius-VIM, Vastus Medialis-VM, Vastus Lateralis-VL) and hamstring (Biceps Femoris-BF, semitendinosus-STT and semimembranosus-SMM) muscles were evaluated using B-Mode ultrasonography. Ultrasound images were analysed offline using an image analysis software (Image J) program and EI of muscles was determined the same researcher. All patients completed Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) that is a knee related disorder-specific questionnaire. Physical performance measures included the Five times Sit to Stand test (FTSS), the Twenty-meter Walk Test (20WT), and the Stair Climbing Test (SCT). Results The mean age of patients participating in the study was 58.73±9.42 years. A positive correlation was found between EI of quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscles and the total KOOS scores. EI of RF, VIM, VM, VL and BF presented a significant negative correlation with FTSS, 20WT and SCT (Table 1). Table 1. Correlation coefficients between Echo-Intensity of Quadriceps Femoris And Hamstring Muscles and KOOS, Physical Performance Parameters (n = 96) Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Subscales EI (au) Pain Symptoms Function in daily living Function in Sport and Recreation Quality of Life RF 0.129 0.237 0.443* 0.365* 0.186 VI 0.220 0.94 0.210 0.162 0.201 VL 0.071 0.116 0.444* 0.482* 0.312 VM 0.105 0,191 0.432* 0,454* 0.112 BF 0.456* 0.227* 0.436* 0.402* 0.502 SMM 0.070 0.239 0.078 0.015 0.357 STT 0.224 0.179 0.456 0.312 0.522 Physical Performance Parameters EI (au ) Five times Sit to Stand test Twenty-meter Walk Test Stair Climbing Test RF 0.439* 0.454* 0.643** VI 0.322* 0.435* 0.432* VL 0.444* 0.623** 0.556** VM 0.431* 0.584** 0,571** BF 0.448* 0.419* 0.433** SMM 0.126 0.414* 0.125 STT 0.145 0.315* 0.319** EI, Echo-intensity; au, Arbitrary Unit; RF, Rectus femoris; VIM, Vastus Intermedius; VM, Vastus Medialis; VL, Vastus Lateralis; BF, Biceps Femoris; STT, Semitendinosus; SMM, Semimembranosus; *P &lt; 0.05; **P &lt; 0.001 Conclusion We concluded that muscle EI may be an important predictor of functional performance in women with knee OA. References [1]Pedroso, M. G., de Almeida, A. C., Aily, J. B., de Noronha, M., &amp; Mattiello, S. M. (2019). Fatty infiltration in the thigh muscles in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology international , 39 (4), 627-635. [2]Chopp-Hurley, J. N., Wiebenga, E. G., Bulbrook, B. D., Keir, P. J., &amp; Maly, M. R. (2020). Evaluating the relationship between quadriceps muscle quality captured using ultrasound with clinical severity in women with knee osteoarthritis. Clinical Biomechanics , 80 , 105165. Disclosure of Interests None declared